“During my St. Barts vacation last August, I felt a frantic energy that I had never before witnessed in that familiar, peaceful paradise. There were scattered chaotic rhythms of energy as Hurricane Earl approached. As the storm unfolded, my inner dramatic stage director’s heart started to beat to the rhythms of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Oiseau de Feu (The Fire Bird). The honking brass section mirrored the hysteria on the island and the wind started to howl irksomely, just like Stravinsky’s French horns and bassoons. I peeked out the door and was mesmerized by the colors of a romantic and moody sky.”

As a former band geek, I even marched for one horrifying football season, I totally get associating music with life’s major events. There are certain songs or pieces of music that throw me back into another time and place, even for just a split second. Having been caught in a water spout on my parents’ sail boat, I can’t imagine letting go of the fear to hear the music in a storm but reading Ji’s take on her experience with Hurricane Earl, you can almost see the notes as she describes her latest nail polish collection.

Formula & Application:Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish is 4-Free (includes formaldehyde resin). The square glass bottles are thick enough to feel sturdy but thin enough to properly show off the color. The smooth brushed metal cap is easy to hold and polish with while the brush is round, of average length and on the thicker side. It’s a bit more flexible than most which makes application a breeze.

While I am usually impressed with Rescue’s impeccable formula and pigmentation, only Fortissimo and Piu Mosso were two coat wonders. I had major streaking issues with Poco a Poco so I needed three coats to get it even. I thought it might be the base coat I used (Gelous) so I tried another (CND Sticky) and both ended up with some unevenness and the need for a third coat. Pizzicato is semi-sheer, and it’s probably intentional, but I like to wear my polishes opaque and used three coats with it as well.

“I envisioned my first color—Pizzicato—inspired by the gentle tiny taps of rain droplets as they hit the tin roof, reminiscent of plucked strings. A misty white with the faintest hint of lavender, Pizzicato has a shimmer that acts like prisms of light in a sun shower.”

Rescue Beauty Lounge Pizzicato is a semi-sheer, lavender tinted white with silvery flake glitter. In the bottle you see specks of pink and blue but they don’t really show up on the nail. While I normally shy away from anything resembling lavender, this is white enough that it doesn’t give me alien hands.

“When the wind picked up, I saw Poco a poco, “little by little.” This is a shade that changes from moment to moment. It’s the stunning, sparkling pink of a fanning cloud when the red and orange rays of the sun are trying to burst through.”

Rescue Beauty Lounge Poco a Poco is a muted carnation pink with rosy pink micro-shimmer. On the nail, the polish looks like it has a subtle cast or heathering that makes the shimmer more subtle and hazy. There’s just something about this shimmer that makes me think of OPI Windy City Pretty. I just hope I still have the color to show you a comparison.

“Later, the ominous dark clouds bled into the sky with a fast-moving wind. Piú Mosso is an inky, blue-black that shoots through a flash of orange, the last glow of sunlight.”

Rescue Beauty Lounge Piu Mosso is a blackened navy with reddish orange micro-shimmer. It’s pretty dark indoors but not so much that you can’t tell it’s blue. Also, the shimmer isn’t as pronounced as the RBL Tudors polishes, it’s more reserved, like Insouciant. What I love is that Piu Mosso gives you two totally different looks in one bottle. It turns from a playful, fiery shimmer in the sunlight to a chic, creamy blue indoors and at night.

“At last, when the light left the sky and the wind started to roar, the sky turned into a shade beyond description—a dark greenish, blackish, brown, leading to a powerful Fortissimo, the finale chord of The Fire Bird.”

Rescue Beauty Lounge Fortissimo is a blackened brown creme with green undertones that give it a greyed cast indoors. At first sight, I wondered what this muddy liquid would look like on my nails but it turned out much better than I expected. Think of it as a dirty espresso bean. It doesn’t have that rich, warm chocolate goodness. It’s grittier with edge.

Bottom Line: While I love the story behind these colors, overall the collection didn’t wow me. I wanted to be Tudors wowed and it just didn’t happen. Piu Mosso is my hands down favorite from the collection and “must have” in my book. It’s a challenge to add orange shimmer to blue and not have it take over the base color. Ji accomplished this with her usual finesse and style. Pizzicato surprised me with its stunning shimmer and unique take on white.

Fortissimo is interesting and well formulated but it doesn’t make my pulse race and I honestly wonder how flattering it will be on most people. Now I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again, I’m not a pink girl. Despite Ji’s best efforts to make a pink I would fall in love with, Poco a Poco made me work too much. To make the effort worthwhile it would have to be one special pink and unfortunately, this one just isn’t.

The Rescue Beauty Lounge L’Oiseau de Feu collection will go on pre-sale before the end of July. Make sure you’re signed up for the RBL newsletter to be notified of the sale dates. Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polishes retail for $18/eafor a .4oz bottle and can be purchased online at RescueBeauty.com.

What are we thinking about the colors? Which polishes do you plan to order? Where are my fellow band/orchestra geeks?

I will be doing comparisons of these so if you have a specific comparison request, leave it in the comments.

Former marching band bass guitarist here (and yes, that was as annoying and difficult as it sounds).
I’m waiting for a RBL color that will inspire me to come up off $18 for one bottle of polish. It hasn’t happened yet. I know the formula is great and everything, and these are pretty colors, but the price point makes me crazy.

Because I’m a semi-hoarder, I’ll be ordering all of them… but the only two that made my heart get excited were Piu Mosso and Poco a Poco. I’m totally a pink girl so I’ll work a little harder to finally have a RBL pink that I like!

Fortissimo is just meh to me. I was totally only the fence about Pizzicato, but your swatch made me really like it … we shall see how it looks on my olive-ish, warm tone skin.

I really love your honesty. When I saw the other blogger’s posts moments before yours I was underwhelmed, but thinking if anyone could change my mind, it would be you. I must have Pizzicato, but I’m not feeling the others. I don’t dislike them, but I don’t love them.

I love the Fortissimo and the Piu Mosso! I am a classically trained pianist and knew the names were taken from that! I am not wowed with the 2 pinks-but then again, like you-I don’t do pinks! I did a post dedicated to you and Mismas and the NY Times debate! You rock!!

Wow, what an interesting collection! I think I am the most excited for Piu Mosso and Poco a Poco, even though you had trouble with the application. I love the contrasts in the collections Ji’s been coming up with lately. And also the more frequent addition of that subtle, beautiful glitter!

I’m likewise just not a pink girl, so that is a pass on Poco. Pizzicato doesn’t look as interesting to me as Insouciant (might be a good comparison to show); and Fortissimo doesn’t seem as inspired as Recherge.

What I’m really psyched about is the RBL Fan Collection. I want that one based on the pale dusty jelly green of succulents soooo bad.

Loving Fortissimo. I don’t know but I love dark/army fatigue type colors. Also like like Poco Poco though it’s amazing how different it looks in outside light. Looks so much lighter. Thanks for the swatches Michelle

Could you please show fortissimo next to a typical dark brown, like the one from Essie’s winter collection (I’m spacing on the name… something to do with velvet?). I just want to see how “grungy” it is in comparison.

I highly doubt any are dead on dupes but I would love to see them compared. Overall I think it’s a nice collection. I don’t love Poco a Poco but I think the rest are very nice.
While the colors don’t seem totally original, Ji usually seems to make the shimmer aspect of her non-creme polishes very unique.

I actually really love the collection as a whole. I think it will translate well into fall. I’m really interested on how they play together in mani/pedi combos, maybe even in some creative nail art.

On a personal preference I would only buy Pizzicato and Piu Mosso. And I’m questioning Pizzicato because I bought Essie’s Nice is Nice and for me that’s the perfect lilac! But Pizzicato does have that shimmer…

Fortissimo is just not my shade and I would have a hard time wearing that in Aug/Sept when I’m still wearing shorts and tanks Poco a Poco, however, I do see wearing well in Aug/Sept but I just don’t like mauve, but i do like most other pinks… so this one I would have to see in person.

Piu Mosso looks amazing, and I’d probably get it, if it wasn’t so hard for me to get RBL, but quite honestly, I won’t miss it. This collection does nothing for me, although I adore the idea behind it. Pinks aren’t really my thing, neither are browns, and so most of the collection is a pass from the beginning.

Ahhhh, I love Piu Mosso. It looks like that one will probably be snagged very quickly. I’m not feeling Fortissimo or Pizzicato, but I’m actually pretty attracted to Poco a Poco even though I don’t really go for pinks.
Thanks Michelle!

These aren’t wowing me either (save Piu Mosso), but this is the first time I’ve been tempted to buy a polish just for the name/inspiration! I’m a music student and Firebird is one of my favorites, so we’ll see if I can resist

Pizzicato makes me think of Zoya’s Marley but more shimmery. Otherwise, the lavender seems pretty similar to me. In the bottle, I was instantly drawn to it in your picture, but after seeing how similar the two colors look, I may pass. Maybe compare them if you can?

I actually like 3 out of 4 in this collection…and will definitely buy Pio Mosso. It’s very interesting how it looks completely different in different light – like getting 2 for 1! Same goes for Poco a Poco. Thanks for the swatches!

Like a lot of others here, I think Piu Mosso is my absolute favorite. I like your swatches of Fortissimo, but am not totally convinced I need to own it. Poco a poco and Pizzicato are toss ups for me. The colors don’t truly grab me, though they are pretty. I am trying to convince myself that I like this collection more than I do, but… I’m not sure. The inspiration is awesome, but the colors don’t grab me as much as I’d like.

Piu Mosso almost makes this former marching band (pit and low brass), Firebird/Stravinsky-loving girl willing to shell out $18… but then I remember that I can usually buy two colors for that much from other brands. I’m not at all tempted by the pinks, but I don’t really wear pinks or reds.

Piu Mosso is a gorgeous blue and I’m happy to hear that it still looks blue in low light. I love the shimmer in it! I’m actually intrigued by Pizzicato as well. I’m still not sure I can bring myself to splurge on RBL’s, and while I like those two colors I’m not sure they’re the ones that will convince me.

I’ve sat with this feeling for awhile before posting, but I’m bothered by the naming of this collection. I live on the gulf coast, and have been through several serious hurricanes. Hurricanes kill people, disrupt lives, and change landscapes. It’s hard for me to see a hurricane as the inspiration for these colors without thinking of the much, much darker side of these storms.

Particularly coming from a relatively wealthy person who witnessed a hurricane on St. Barts, then presumably was able to leave, to go back to her everyday life while residents were left to pick up the pieces… I’m sure Baek didn’t intend intend it, but this collection has a very jarring way of reminding me of the distance between the rich and the poor, the safe and the unsheltered. Though I like some of the colors, I will not be able to bring myself to buy any of these.

I feel so badly for anyone who has been in a hurricane, and has suffered the effects, but I can’t see that as a reason not to buy these polishes from RBL. How far can you take this idea? You won’t buy anything. We had devastating tornados recently, Japan had massive earthquakes, tsunamis…does this mean we can’t name a polish Stormy, Earthquake, or something like that? Well, everyone has the right to boycott for anything, but it’s a little harsh on RBL to single them out. It was just a few weeks ago someone was upset with the nude collection put out by Zoya.

Fellow orchestra geek right here! Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra alum as well. I’ll still be getting Piu Mosso asap, but I have to agree with what J.S. said (I live in Houston now, and was there for Hurricane Ike.)

Well, I’m a total music geek, but the only one of these I could see buying is Piu Mosso. The inspiration story for the colors is interesting, but a collection of nothing but muddy, dark colors called The Firebird seems a little odd to me.

I used to really like RBL, but I added their page to Facebook and Ji doesn’t seem like a very pleasant person by some of her posts. She complains a lot which seems really unprofessional for a business, and you don’t see Essie/OPI/Zoya doing that. I just ended up “unliking” her page for fear it would deter me from purchasing her polish. But I agree, this collection is so-so.

I did that for a little while, relying on ALU for any important RBL news. Then I realized that she needs a lot of positive reinforcement (it’s a hard business). While within a week she states she hasn’t had a 4 day weekend in 14 year yet her latest collection was from inspired by her (2011) vacation in St. Barth, her polish formula is still one of the best and (at least in the past) she’s rewarded her minions with a fantastic 50% off sale at then end of the year.

Sad thing about Chanel’s polish is that the quality sucks.. I honestly feel that you pay $27 for the novelty of owning something Chanel. RBL, although it is expensive, has a great formula. So although I’m too poor to spend money on things like “designer” nail polish right now, I’d still choose RBL over Chanel.

While I usually LOVE RBL polishes, they apply like a dream (sometimes with just one coat like Teal) but as a few of them sit in my stash I’ve had some separation issues. Like some refuse to “reincorporate” themselves after a good shaking. Diddy Mow is my worst offender, and sadly one of my former faves. Am I the only one? Should I store them in a special place or something? At bucks, I’d be mighty upset if they all started going bad on me.

Quite a few of my RBL’s separate too. More then other polishes I have sitting next to them.
I use them in my salon and clients often comment “are they rarely used?”- which is not the case at all.
I mix them every few days but they still separate
They last well and apply like a dream though

Seems like a lot of themes here, each idea could be a collection itself Ji’s mind is very creative. An entire Stravinsky series would be so awesome… Rite of Spring? Petrushka? So many great themes in his works. As much as I love these colors… I’m kind of sad there wasn’t a “Fire Bird” polish in this collection.

Poco a Poco looks similar to Wet & Wild’s Wild Card/Invitation which has a more pronounced shimmer and the base shade is more lilac than pink. I love the idea of many of these RBL polishes, but I just can’t justify the price, doesn’t compute!

Ahh, we played Firebird as our final number during my school’s marching band show two years ago. It was my favorite song from all four years of being in marching band. :’)

I have to agree that I’m not particularly stunned by any of these colors, save for Piu Mosso. I think the names for Piu Mosso and Fortissimo should be switched, actually. Haha. When I think of Fortissimo, I don’t really think of a muted brown creme.

IF any of you have never tried RBL polishes, you shouldn’t scoff at paying $18 for them. I believe this is defintiely a case of “You get what you pay for.” 99% of the time, they practically apply themselves. And even with a so called “bad” application color, it’s ten times better than most of what’s out there. Plus the wear time is better, too. I’ve tried Butter London, Deborah Lippman, Nfu Oh, Cult Nails, drugstore Brands, Illamasqua and more, and I have to say that for overall application, dry time and wear time, RBL does beat all. To me Ji’s polishes are more than just make up, they are a work of art and I love being able to be witness to the creative process.

I haven’t been too excited about the last two RBL collections. Too murky, too much shimmer and too many blues/blacks/ purples. Would it kill Ji to do some warmer tones and/or cremes? The last collection I really loved was the surfer collection.

I am torn to whether or not I should get any of these. I haven’t had a bad experience with Ji. In fact she signed my last invoice and responds to me on her blog. I dont do face book but I imagine running a business and all the social sites can be a bit daunting..and a lot of work! But i think the polish is really worth the price for me. I get almost two weeks out of RBL compared to a two-three day CND or Butter London. Its my fave out of the more expensive ones.

Very interesting reading the comments. I also am a fan of Ji’s on facebook and now that you mention it, she does complain a lot… but she’s also human. I like seeing the humanity of RBL. And I think the complaints are a product of a facebook society. Its much easier to put up what you’re venting about than what you’re smiling about.

I LOVE Piu Mosso and Pizzicato. I have Essie Nice is Nice so I feel that fulfills my lilac polish needs. I will be getting Piu Mosso and I think that will look great for fall. I feel this collection is a great pre-fall collection. You could wear all the colors now and not feel like you’re trying to wish your summer away.

While I can understand and sort of agree with not liking a business owner complaining/venting on public fora, I really lean more to how you feel. She’s human and I think it’s *really* easy to forget just how freaking *tiny* the company is. The marketing, packaging, quality and sophistication really can give the impression that they’re a super slick, large-and-established brand.

Ji’s humanity is part of why I feel attachment and loyalty to RBL polishes. I also want to note that she’s recently hired Amanda to act as the customer service liaison and let me tell ya, she is *awesome*. Very nice, quick to respond and extremely helpful.

I think a lot of you are making way too many excuses for Ji and her outrageously priced polish. While there are *a few* RBL colors that I find to be unique and worth buying (:ahem: the blogger created colors), the rest I’ve seen before from other brands –and while RBL does apply well (for the most part) so do plenty of other brands, at dramatically lower prices.
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